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Quilting for a Cure

Local Woman Takes Prominent Role in Creation of Parkinson's Quilt Project

- Sep 20 2010

WILLIAMS - Area resident Linda Webb plans to travel to Glasgow, Scotland this month, but her trip won't be just about sightseeing. She will be attending the first unveiling of the Parkinson's Quilt Project.

Webb, 62, was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2004 and has been quilting regularly since 2002. She recently created a number of quilt squares and larger panels to be included in the Parkinson's Disease Foundation (PDF) Parkinson's Quilt Project, which seeks to raise awareness of Parkinson's disease (PD) and the need for a cure.

Over 600 individuals participated in the quilting project. Each two foot by two foot quilted square will be assembled into eight-foot panels. The panels will be hung from cables throughout the exhibition hall in Glasgow.

Along with creating quilt sections for the project, Webb also served on the committee for the project. Because of her quilting expertise, she was offered a position on the project's advisory committee. In the position, she performs outreach to others living with Parkinson's, to encourage participation. Through letters to family, friends and community members, she's also been able to raise funds to support the quilt's display.

Webb recently completed the project's final 40th panel as an introductory panel for the collection.

"It's got Parkinson's Quilt Project on it and Parkinson's World Congress on it and then it has a map of the world on it," Webb said. "I did that whole eight by eight panel. It turned out that I was one of the few people on the committee that had any actual quilting experience. So, when it came down to things like that, I was called upon."

Along with the introductory panel, Webb sewed a quilt panel to reflect her love of music. The panel features a picture of her and her lap harp, which she learned to play after being diagnosed with PD, and images of several other instruments, such as the harmonica she remembers her father playing. Her quilt panel was part of a special preview display of the quilt at PDF's annual gala, Bal du Printemps held May 12 at the Pierre Hotel in New York City, the theme of which was "The Power of Music."

After its unveiling, the quilt project and individual panels will be available to circulate around the world as an awareness tool for one year. The panels will then be dispersed. An Arizona panel will come back to the state.

Before becoming involved in the Parkinson's Quilt Project, Webb began a quilting project of her own, making quilts and donating them to various organizations for fundraising purposes.

"The quilts are for those organizations to sell, raffle, whatever to raise money for their programs," she said.

Webb said of her efforts, "I hope that my contributions to the quilt project helps not only to promote awareness about Parkinson's and further PDF's cause, but allow others to understand that we need to find a cure."

Robin Elliott, executive director of PDF, said the true power of the Parkinson's Quilt Project comes from the 600 individuals like Webb, who actually create the pieces that were assembled.

"When the quilt is displayed for the first time at the World Parkinson Congress in Glasgow, Scotland in September, it will radiate her contributions and those of hundreds of others around the world who, like her, are touched by Parkinson's. It will also remind the world that we need increased awareness and funds to find a cure for Parkinson's. We applaud Ms. Webb's efforts to help make all this happen," Elliott said.

To learning more about Webb's panel and the Parkinson's Quilt Project visit http://support.pdf.org/quilt.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects nearly 1,000,000 people in the United States alone. Although research is being conducted, there is currently no cure for Parkinson's.

The Parkinson's Disease Foundation is a leading national presence in Parkinson's disease research, education and public advocacy. Since its founding in 1957, PDF has funded over $85 million worth of scientific research in Parkinson's disease, supporting the work of leading scientists throughout the world.

Learn more about the quilt and about how you can bring it to your community in 2011!